Holden's heavy-duty family hauler

New Colorado bucks the faux-wheel-drive trend with a genuine offroader.

26 November 2012Stephen Ottley

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Holden Colorado 7. Photo:

Don't call Holden's new Colorado 7 a soft-roader.

Unlike most modern city-focused SUVs, it's built to head off the beaten track ? and take your family along for the ride.

The Colorado 7 is based on Holden's ute of the same name, but adds a boot and a third row of seats. That makes it a direct rival for the Mitsubishi Challenger that is based on the Triton ute.

The company has kept the line-up simple with a single engine and transmission and only two trim levels. The range kicks-off at $46,990 (plus costs) for LT and the better-equipped LTZ starts at $50,490. Metallic paint adds $250.

Both are powered by the same 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel from the ute, which produces 132kW and 470Nm. A six-speed automatic is standard on both variants and fuel use is pegged at 9.4 litres per 100km.

Although the Colorado shares most of its underpinnings with the ute, Holden has developed a unique rear suspension to give it a more comfortable on-road ride. The leaf springs of the ute are replaced with a multi-link live axle set-up.

But Holden claims this change hasn't hurt the Colorado 7's off-road performance. Both the LT and LTZ get low range, a limited slip differential and Hill Descent Control as standard. Both variants also boast a 3000kg towing capacity.

On the safety front the Colorado 7 has earned a five-star ANCAP rating. Stability control is standard and there are dual front airbags and curtain airbags that extend to the third row.